Flexible pocket receptacle



'Sept. 29, 1931. w. R. BUXTON 1,324,943

FLEXIBLE POCKET RECEPTACLE Original Filed June 15, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

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. I ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 29, 1931. w. R. BUXTON 1,824,943

FLEXIBLE POCgET RECEPTACLE Origihal Filed June 15, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

'ma/ Zia/ /f ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 29 1931 WARNER B. IBUXTON, OF LONGME AJJO'W, KASSACHUSETTS rmxmm rocxnzr anonr'racm Application filed June 15, 1928, Serial This invention relates to an improved flexible pocket receptacle adapted to carry bills, cards and the like and commonly known as a bill fold.

The invention is an improvement on that shown in my copending application for: U. S. Letters Patent, filed March 26, 1926, under Serial No; 97,636. The bill fold of that application depended on the use of a pair of longitudinally-spaced and freely flexible flaps for connecting one longitudinal edge of the outer wall to the opposite longitudinal edge of the inner wall. These flaps aiford a loose and flexible connection between the two walls and by warping and twisting, permit relative sliding freedom in a longitudinal direction between the inner and outer walls of the bill fold. The degree of sliding freedom is directly proportional to the length of the flaps. In adapting the bill fold for use with the small-sized bills soon to be issued, the inner wall had to be reduced in width and the flaps which extend across such wall, were therefore correspondingly reduced in len h, resulting in a sacrifice in the degree of sli mg freedom.

Thisinvention is concerned with, and has for an object, a carrying forward of the principles of the prior invention to secure 1ncreased sliding freedom between the inner and outer walls even though the are reduced in width and the connecting aps are correspondingly reduced in len h.

The invention .also has or an object the provision of a bill fold which is adapted for use with both the old and the new sizes of paper money.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved bill fold which can be made up from a single piece of leather, or like'material, folded'in an improved way and held in folded relation without stitchmg.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following description and will be pointedout in the appended claims.

The invention will be disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of-a blank from which the bill fold may be made;

No. 285,698. Renewed Kai-eh 4, 1980.

Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are views showing successive stages in which the bill fold walls are positioned in operation of folding the blank, shown in Fig. 1, into the completed bill fold shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View showing the bill fold, when folded to fit the pocket (as it appears after having been folded along the central vertical line of Fig. 5)

Fig. 7 is a sectional perspective View illustrative of the novel construction by which relative longitudinal movement is permitted between the inner and outer walls of the bill fold;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View, with parts broken away, taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 7 and Figs. 9 and 10 are full-size, fragmentary, and elevational views showing the bill fold open and closed, respectively.

In these drawings, the bill fold has been disclosed in a form such that it can be made up from a single piece of suitable material, such as leather or the like. A single piece of material, cutout in the form shown in Fig. 1 and suitably scored and slit where required, may by successive folding and tab tucking operations be formed into the-finished bill fold shown (in open position) in Fig. 6 without any stitching whatsoever; The first folding operation causes the parts to take the positions shown in Fig. 2; the second causes the parts to take the position shown in Fig. 3; and the third causes theparts to take the positions shown in Fig. 4. The fourth folding operation, followed by four tab tucking operations, converts the article shown in Fig. 4 into the finished form shown in Fig. 5. The parts are suificiently held in their folded positions by tabs which interlock certain sections of the bill fold, as willappear.

The'blank shown inFig. 1 includes an outer wall section 15, which is substantially rectangular in. shape'and of an area slightly larger than that of the largest bill to be carried. Section 15 is preferably creased to define a transverse line of fold 16 located centrally between the ends thereof, and at opposite ends is providcd with end flaps 17 which are marked oif from section 15 by lines of scoring 18. Each end flap is cut, as at 19, forming an upper and a lower tab 20. Extending from one side or longitudinal edge of section 15 and foldable along the scored lines 21 are a pair of flaps 22, disposed in longitudinally spaced relation and one on each side of the central line of fold 16. These flaps 22 are each provided with an upper and a lower slot 23 to receive the corresponding tabs 20 of the adjacent end flap 17. The length of these slots 23 is substantially equal to the 'length of the narrow necks 24 by which the tabs are connected to their end flaps. Connected to each flap 22 and foldable along the scored line 25 is a flap 26 and these flaps near their remote edges are pref erably, although not necessarily, connectedtogether by an integral and narrow strip 27. Extending from such edge of the connected flaps 26 is a partition section 28, the central part of which iscut alon lines 29 to form a central flap 30. This ap 30 is foldable along a line of scoring 31 formed on the front face of the blank (as viewed in Fi 1) and the partition flap 28 is foldable a ong lines of scoring 32, formed on the opposite face, of the blank. The fia s 28 and 30 are preferably creased so as to old along transverse and median lines 33 and 34, respectively.

The various sections of the blank are positioned to form a bill fold in the following manner. The flap section 30 is folded along line 31 and laid over .and upon'the flap sections 26, which it partially overlaps. This condition is shown in Fig. 2. Then, by grasping the partition section 28 near its free edge, the latter is superimposed on outer wall section 15 and at the same time the flaps 26 and section 30 are superimposed on flaps 22,the hinging taking place along lines 25 but not along lines 32. The flap 30 is now enclosed between the pairs of flaps 22 and 26 and bridges the gap between such pairs of flaps. The parts then occupy the positions shown in Fig. 3. The next step is accomplished by grasping the superimposed pairs of flaps 22 and 26 and foldin them along lines 21 and 32, respectively, w ereby flaps 26 will rest upon fiaps 28 and the parts will be positioned as shown in Fig. 4. The end flaps 17 are then folded along lines 18 and laid over and upon flaps 22. Then fla 17 and 22 are interlocked by inserting t e tabs 20 in slots 23. The parts then occupy the positions shown in Fig. 5 andthe bill fold is completed ready for use. The bill fold is shown in 0 on or extended position in Fig. 5. It will be noted that the several transverse lines of creasing 16, 33 and 34 coincide and the bill fold may be folded along such lines into the closed position shown in Fig. 6 and into a form suitable to fit the po ket.

edge 0 It is to be noted that the bill fold is provided with two-compartments. One of these lies between the outer wall 15 and partition section 28 and the other between the section 28 and the wall defined by the pair of flaps 26 and the intermediate bridging member 30. The first named compartment is of a size to accommodate paper currency of the present size of bank checks. The other compartment is of less height and is adapted to receive paper currency of the smaller size soon to be issued. If the two compartments are not needed or desired, the partition member 28 may be omitted by cutting it off along the lines 32. The provision of this partition is desirable and preferred but it is not essential for all purposes and the bill fold will function properly in the novel manner prescreases as the compartments are filled with bills. Unless provision is made forrelative longitudinal movement between the inner and outer walls, the inner wall must necessarily buckle near its central portion and such buckling will prevent the bill fold, when closed, from lying in smooth, fiat and compact form. All this is well known and I am aware that various provisions have been heretofore proposed to take care of the buckling or cramping action. The provision made for such action, according to this invention,'consists in a distinctly better provision for the purpose in view.

The present bill fold construction is characterized in that the central section 30 of the inner wall of the bill fold is free from a direct connection with the outer wall. It is, of course, connected to the outer wall but the connection is effected through flaps 26 and 22 which, being flexible, permit considerable freedom of flap 30 for relative longitudinal movement. As illustrative of the freedom for such movement, one can grasp flap 30 and shift it back and forth relatively to the outer wall over a considerable range. Considering Fig. 7, as one pushes flap 30 to the right, the lower edge of flap 26 will be carried with it. This flap 26 at its upper edge is connected to flap 22, which, being attached by flap 17 to outer wall 15, cannot move longitudinally. The flap 26, however, being of flexible material can and does warp, when so moved, and its upper edge near the right hand end will be found to roll' up and at the left hand end to draw down to permit the longitudinal movement. As the upper edge of flap 26 draws down near its left hand end, this naturally pulls up on flap 22 and causes the lower flap 22 to roll up near its left hand end which, being remote from flap 17, has freedom for such action.

In operation, when the bill fold is moved from open to closed position, the action is actually the reverse of that described for the central piece 30 remains stationary, while the pairs of flaps 26 and 22 move inwardly in opposite directions relativelythereto. The relative action, however, is the same as that above described where member 30 was pushed outwardly toward one end of the bill fold by hand. When the bill fold is again opened, the flaps 26 and 22 move outwardly and back into their normal unwarped posit-ions while member 30 remains stationary. The relative pos1t1ons of the inner and outer walls, when the bill fold is opened and closed, are shown full size in Figs. 9 and 10, respectively.

From these figures, it will be seen that there is a considerable relative shifting of the outer and inner walls, amply sufiicient to avoid buckling, bunching, crinkling or irregular folding of the inner wall when the bill fold is doubled upon itself into closed or pocket carrying positions.

While the sliding freedom is obtained by means of flaps, which indirectly connect the member 30 to the outer wall and which yield and warp and twist in action, the warping and twisting does not occur to any such degree as tocau'se an appreciable distortion of the parts and detract from the appearance of the article. While the warping action can readily be detected if one is looking for it, it is not ordinarily noticeable to one who is unfamiliar with thetheory on which the sliding freedomis obtained.

Inasmuch as the members 30 and 22 are relatively slidable and move in substantially contiguous relation, there mi ht be a possibility of the end edges of member 30 catching .on the adjacent end edges of the tabs 20,

which project inwardly from the inner sur-. face of flaps 22. To avoid any possibility of such trouble, a rectangular piece 36 of 0 0th is applied as shown in Fig. 8 to the inner surface of each flap 22 to cover the tabs 20. This piece 36 is suitably fastened, as by adhesive, to flap'22 and it 1s only'necessar to fasten it on one edge, viz, that edge wh1chis adjacent member 30. This lining-piece 36 enables one to utilize the spacebetween each flap .22

arliid member 30 as apocket for cards and the li e.

In the preceding descri tion of the operation of the bill fold, no re erence was made to partition member 28, as the invention according to man of its features, is independent of such mem er. Such member. in no wise afiects the operation of the bill fold. It is attached to the lower edges of flaps26, just the same as member 30 is, and therefore the other parts of the bill fold are freely movable relatively to member 28 in the same manner and to the same extent as they are with respect to member 30. The lengli of member 28 is considerably shorter than that of outer wall 15 and its ends are sufiiciently spaced from the corresponding ends of member 15 so that the ends of member 28 will not engage the end walls of the bill fold and cause buckling of member 28.

Aside from the important advantage, relating to provisions for relative longitudinal movement between the inner andouter walls of the bill fold, which follows from the improved construction disclosed, the invention afiords desirable manufacturing advantages adaptinglit to quantit production at low unit cost. T e blank can be sin le stamping opzration, in which the lines of old may also suitabl defined. Having the blank thus formerl the. only other necessary labor is for folding the sections and interlocking them to form the finished bill fold, all of which may be accomplished expeditiously by relatively unskilled labor, inasmuch as the operations are so sim 1e. It may, of course, be desirable to score t e fold v lines apart from the stamping operation.

Thus, I have provided an improved bill fold which not only possesses im ortant ad vantages from the point of view 0 the manufacturer but also possesses advantages which areimportant from the users point of view inasmuch as the bill fold, even when filled with many bills, is adapted to fold into comparatively flat, smooth and compact form, ada ting it to be comfortably carried in the pocket b very simple means.

That eatnre of the invention relating to the one piece construction of the bill fold, while desirable and important by reason 'of the manufacturing advantages incident thereto, is not necessarily essential insofar as the other distinctive feature of the inventionis concerned. That is to'say, that feature characterized by an arrangement which permits relative longitudinal shiftin of the inner and outer walls, does not depen on the one'piece construction, although that is now thought the best and most desirable form. The same action would be obtained at least to a substantial degree if the various sections were not integral and-were fastenedtogether by other means. Either feature of the invention may be used independently of the other and, when so used, some of the advantages pointed out herein will be obtained. A structure utilizing either of these features or both togetheris considered within the scope of the invention.

The invention has been disclosed herein, in an embodiment at present referred, but the scope of the invention is efined b the apdefining the inner wall, a second pair of longitudinally spaced flaps superposed one on each of the first named pair and each connecting one longitudinal edge of the outer wall to the opposite and non-adjacent longitudinal edge of that first-named flap on which it is superposed, and a central inner wall member bridging the space between said pairs of flaps and having each end received between a flap of the first named pair and a flap of the second named pair, said bridging member being connected to the first named pair of flaps along that edge which is opposite and non-adjacent to the edge to which the second named flaps are connected, and means connecting each end of the outer wall to the adjacent flap of the second named pair, said wall, flaps and member being made of flexible material.

2. A bill fold, comprising, an outer wall foldable about its transverse center line, a pair of longitudinally spaced flaps connected to the lower edge of the outer wall one on each side of said center line and folded up and over said wall, a second pair of similarly spaced flaps connected one to each of the first named flaps along the upper edge thereof and folded down to lie between said outer wall and the first named flaps, a third flap connected to the lower edge of each of the second pair of flaps and folded upwardly to lie in part between the flaps of the first and second named pairs and in part to bridge the gaps between said pairs, and means connecting each end of the outer wall to the adjacent flap of the first named pair, said wall and flaps being made of flexible material.

3. A bill fold, comprising, an outerwall foldable about its transverse center line, a pair of longitudinally spaced flaps connected to thelower edge of the outer wall one on each side of said center line and folded up and over said wall, a second pair of similarly spaced flaps connected one to each of the first named flaps along the upper edge thereof and folded down to lie between said outer wall and the first named flaps, a third flap connected to the lower edge of each of the second pair of flaps and folded upwardly to lie in part between the flaps of the first and second named pairs and in part to bridge the gaps between said pairs, and means connecting each end of the outer wall to the adjacent flap of the first named pair, said last named means comprising a flap foldably connected to one of the elements to be connected and interlocked by a tab and slot connection with the other of said elements.

4. A bill fold, comprising, an outer wall foldable about its transverse'center line, a pair of longitudinall spaced'flaps connected to the lower edge 0 the outer wall one on each side of said center line and folded up and over said wall, a second pair of similarly spaced flaps connected oneto each of the first named flaps along the upper edge thereof and folded down to lie between said outer wall and the first named flaps, a third flap connected to the lower edge of each of the second pair of flaps and folded upwardly to lie in part between the flaps of the first and second named pairs and in part to bridge the gaps between said pairs, a partition member 'connected to the lower edge of each of the second pair of flaps and folded upwardly to he between the same' and I said outer Wall, and means connecting each end of the outer wall to the adjacent flap of the first named pair, said wall, flaps and member being made of flexible material.

5. A one piece bill fold made up from a blank of flexible material, having an outer wall section, flap sections foldably connected in longitudinally spaced relation to one side edge of said outer wall section and disposed one on each side of the transverse center line thereof, inner wall flap sections foldably connected one to each of the first named flap sections and to the free edges thereof, and a central inner wall section foldably connected to the free edges of the inner wall flap sections, said central section adapted to be folded over and upon the inner wall sections and to partially overlap the same and bridge the gap between them, said inner wall sections with the central iimer wall section superposed thereon adapted to be folded over and upon the first named flap sections, and the first named flap sections with the several inner wall sections superposed thereon adapted to be folded over and upon the outer wall section, the end edge of each of the first named flap sections adapted to be connected to the adjacent end edge of the outer wall section.

6. A one piece bill fold made up from a blank of flexible material, having an outer wall section, flap sections foldably connected in longitudinally spaced relation to one side edge of said outer wall section and disposed one on each side of the transverse center line thereof, inner wall flap sections foldably connected one to each of the first named flap sections and to the free edges thereof, a central inner wall section foldably connected to the free edges of the inner wall flap sections, and a partition section also foldably connected to said last named edges, said central section adapted to be folded over and upon the inner wall sections and said parti- =-tion section adapted to be folded to lie on the opposite side of said inner wall sections, said inner wall sections adapted to be folded over and upon the first named flap sections and the latter to be folded over and upon the outer wall section so that the partition section lies between the outer wall section and the inner wall sections and so that the central inner wall section lies between the first and second named flap sections, the end of each of the first named flap sections adapted to be connected to the adjacent end of the outer 7 wall section.

. part 7. A bill fold, comprising, an outer wall, a pair of longitudinally spaced members in defining the inner wall,'a pair of longitudinally spaced connecting members superposed one on each of the inner wall members and each connectedto the lower longitudinal edge of the outer wall and to the upper longitudlnal edge of that inner wall member on which it is superposed, the lower longitudinal edge of each inner wall memberfree from connection to said outer wall or to said connecting members, a central inner wall member bridging the space between said pairs of superposed members and having each end received between a member of the first named pair and a member of the second name-d pair, the lower portions of said bridging member being connected to the lower portions of the inner wall members, and means connecting each end of the outer wall to the adjacent end of the adjacent member of the second named pair, said wall andv several members being made of flexible material.

8. A bill fold, comprising, an outer wall.

a pair of longitudinally spaced inner wall members, a pair of longitudinally spaced connecting members superposed one on each of the inner wall members and each connected to the lower longitudinal edge of the outer wall and to the upper longitudinal edge of that inner wall member on which it is superposed, the lower longitudinal edge of each inner wall member free from connection to said outer wall or to said connecting members, and connecting means between the lower portions of the adjacent end edges of said inner wall members.

9. A bill fold. comprising, an outer wall, a pair of longitudinally spaced members in the inner wall, a pair of longipart defining tudinally spaced connectingmembers superposed one on each and each connected to the lower longitudinal edge of the outer wall and to the upper longltudinal edge of that inner wall member on which it is'superposed. the lower longitudinal edge of each inner wall member free from connection to said outer wall or to said con necting members, a central inner wall member bridging the space between the adjacent ends of said pairs of superposed members and having its ends received between said members, and means disposed between said central inner wall member and the outer wall I for connecting the Inner and adjacent lower corners of said inner wall members.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my v signature.

WARNER R, BUXTONZ, I

of the first named members 

